Collapsible coop or crate.



J. S. STURM.

coLLAPsIBLE cooP 0R CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE l. 19l6.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

Lasnmm. COLLAPSIBLE COOP 0R CRATE.

APPLICATIUN FIVLED IUNE l. |916.

JOI-IN SIMON STURM, OF I -IAYTL MISSOURI.

COLLAPSIBLE COOP GR CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 2s, 191e.

Application :filed .Tune 1, 1916. Serial No. 101,092.

To all 'a0/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN S. S'rUnM, a cit-i- Zen of the United States, residing at Ha'yti, in the county of Pemiscot, State of Missouri` have invented a new and useful Collapsible' Coop or Crate; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear', and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make, and use the saine.

This invention relates to an improved collapsible ycoop or crate., `for fowls, produce and the like, and an object of the invention is-to provide a coop or crate of this design, in which etlicient, simple and practical features are involved.

@ne of the features of the invention is to provide a coop or crate comprising a bottom upon which Athe side ypieces collapse, and provided with y,hinged end pieces, which col! lapse against lthe side pieces, in combination with'a top? piece which has sliding link connections with one of the end pieces, so thaty the top piece may be collapsed againstthe end pieces, therebeing suitable .connections between the various pieces, whereby the pieceS may be locked either in collapsed or erect positions, in combination with sliding guide connections between and the side pieces. f

ln practical fields the details .of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.y The invention comprises `further features and 4cornbin;ttion of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings yand claimed. ln the drawings: Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the improved collapsible coop or crate constructed in accordance with the invention,y F ig. l2 is a sectional vview on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 longitudinally through the coop or crate. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig.` 1. F ig. 4 is an enlarged kdetail perspective view, showing the sides rvand vone of the ends collapsed, and the other end and the top ink positions ready to be collapsed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts of the crate or coop collapsed. l

Referring more particularly to thek drawings, 1 designates the coop or crate asa whole, which y,comprises the bottom 2 having the sides 3 and l hinged thereto, as shown at 5, so as to collapse inwardly upon the bottoni. Upon the upper faceot the betteln at beth ends thereof stripe; se:

the end pieces cured transversely, and to which the end pieces 8 and 9 are hinged as at 10, so as to collapse toward and upon the sidepieces 3 and 4l. The inner -faces of the end pieces are providedy with quarterly curved guide rods 11, slightly spaced from the inner facesof the end pieces, and in cross section of the coop or crate these rodsy 11 extend 'from the upper side corners of the crate downwardly and toward the center oit'v the crate, as seen in Fig. 4l clearly. Connected at l2 tothe upper parts of the ends of the side pieces are links or rings 1S, through which the rods 11 extend, thereby forming connections between the side and end pieces. lThe links or rings 13, when the side pieces are thrown vertically to perpendicular positions Contact with the upper bent portions of the rods 11, so as to limit the side pieces in their, perpendicular position. As the side pieces are collapsed the links or rings slide upon the rods 11, therefore acting as guides. The links or rings are connected to the side pieces as shown' at 12 by the loops, such loops being of such construction, that `when the side pieces 'are collapsed, the links or rings extend upwardly from the side pieces as to permit ,the end pieces tol told over upon the side pieces. The end piece 8 adjacent its upper edge is provided with notches 15, in which the links or rings 16 are connectedv by thefloops 17. Carried by the top 18 of the coop are rods 19, one end of each of which is secured to the under face of the top as shown at 20. Each rod 19 is spaced on the under face of the top and extends toward the end piece 8,'through each of the notches 15, and through each of the links or ringsy 16, and is bent upwardly and over the end ofthe top and secured to the top as shown at Q1.

When collapsing the crate or coop the sides are first collapsed against the body, the end 9 is then collapsed, after which lthe end piece 8 is collapsed, and in collapsing the end piece 8 the links or rings 16 slide upon the rods 19, until the rings or links 1 6 substantially reach where the rods 19 are secured atQO to the under faceof the top or closure. Owing to the loop 17, the top or closure can then be collapsed uponV both, of the end pieces, and in registration with the bottom, as seen in Fig. 5 clearly. Hingedly connected at 28 to the under face of the top or closure and ,extending transversely thereof suhstantiall y centrally, the crate or eoY a. notch of a plate or member 26, when the side and end pieces are in erect positions, so as to hold the partition rigid, and whereby the coop or crate may be divided into two compartments, lifounted in bearings or eyes 27 upon the upper face of the top or closure and extending transversely thereof and substantially centrally is a rocking rod 28, having downwardly extending arms at both ends, to overlie the side pieces. These arms 29 terminate in hooks 30, to engage the eyes or staples 3l of the outer faces of the side pieces, to assist in holding the top or closurey in position, as seen clearly in Fig. l. The rod 28 substantially centrally thereof is bent to form a loop 32, through which a staple or eye 33 extends, which eye or staple 33 is designed to receive a suitable fastening device, padlock or the like (not shown), to hold the loop 32 down against the upper face of the top or closure, thereby preventing rocking of the rod 28 accidentally. However, after removing the fastening device or the like (not shown), the loop 32 constitutes a lever, whereby the rod may be rocked to disengage the hooks 30.

Mounted in bearings 35 upon the upper surface or face of the top or closure are rock rods 36 and 37. Each rod 36 and 37 at its ends is provided with laterally and downwardly extending arms 33 to overlie the upper rail or bar 39 of each end piece. The lower ends of the arms 38 are provided with hooks 40 to engage under the bars 39, to further assist in holding the top or closure against the upper edges of the side and end pieces. Each of the rods 36 and 37 centrally thereof is bent to form an integrally connected laterally and downwardly extending loop 41, to receive a staple or eye 42 upon the end piece adjacent its upper part, which eye or staple 42 is designed to receive a fastening device, padlock or the like (not shown), to hold the loop.4l against the end piece, and the hooks 40 of the arms 38 under the upper rail or bar 39, thereby more securely and rigidly holding the various parts of the coop or crate in erect position. However, when the side and end pieces and the top or closure are collapsed, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the arms 38 are of such lengths as to permit the hooks 40 to engage under the bottom of the coop or crate, thereby holding parts of the crate or coop in such collapsed positions. When the parts of the coop are so collapsed and the hooks engaging under the bottom, as seen in Fig. 5, the loops 41 receive the staples 45 upon the outer faces of the strips 7, which staples or eyes 45 are designed to receive suitable fastening means (not shown), to hold the parts of the coop collapsed securely. The upper edges of the side pieces are cut away asrshown at 46, so as to receive the plate 26 on the upper face of the bottom, wheny the side pieces are collapsed.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is l. A collapsible crate comprising a bot-- tom, side, and end pieces hinged to the bottom and provided with upper rails, and designed to collapse, the sides toward and against the bottom, and the end pieces toward and upon the side pieces, connections between the side and end pieces both in collapsed and erect positions of said parts, a

top or closure for the crate, one of the endV pieces having loose links, said top or closure having means slidably engaging said links, whereby the top may be collapsed against the end pieces, a rocking rod mounted in bearings adjacent each end of the top or closure having arms at both ends to overlie the end piece, said arms having hooks to engage under the upper rail of the end piece, and a hasp loop forming an integral part of the rod designed to be detachably connected to the end piece to secure the parts of the crate in erect positions.

2. A collapsible coop comprising a bottom, side, and end pieces hinged to the bottom and provided with upper rails, and designed to collapse, the sides toward and against the bottom, and the end pieces toward and upon the side pieces, connections between the side and end pieces both in collapsed and erect positions of said parts, a top or closure for the coop, one of the end pieces having loose links, said top or closure having members slidably engaging said links, whereby the top may be collapsed against the end pieces, a rocking rod mounted in bearings adjacent each end of the top or closure having arms at both ends to overlie the end piece, said arms having hooks to engage under the upper rail of the end piece, and a hasp loop forming anintegral part of the rod designed to be detachably connected to the end piece to secure the parts of the coop in erect positions, and means carried by a part of the bottom to be received by the hasp loop to secure the parts of the coop in collapsed position.

3. A collapsible coop comprising a bottom, side, and end pieces hinged to the bottom, provided with upper rails, and designed to collapse, the sides toward and against the bottom, and the end pieces toward and upon the side pieces, connections between the side and end pieces both in col` lapsed and erect positions of said parts, a top or closure for the coop having upon its under surface adjacent one end spaced apart rods extending partially longitudinally of the iop or closure and being spaced apart from each other, one of the end pieces hav.-

ing loose links engaging upon the rods oon nesting the top or closure slidably to one of said end pieces, whereby the top or olosure may be collapsed against both end pieces, a rocking rod mounted in bearings adjacent each end of the top or closure having arms at both ends to overlie the end piece, said arms having hooks to engage under the upper rail of the end piece, and a hasp loop forming an integral part of the rod designed to be detaohably connected to the end piece to secure the parts of the coop in erect positions, means carried by a part of the bottom to be received by the hasp loop to secure the parts of the coop in eollapsed positions, a central partition collapsibly connected to the top or closure, and a rocking rod mounted in bearings of the top y or closure extending transversely and substantially centrally thereof and having hook arms at its ends7 means upon the side pieces to receive the hooked arms to hold the parts of the coop more secure, and a hasp loop carried by the Central rocking rod designed to be detachably connected to the top or closure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN SIMON STURM.

YVitnesses T. J. BNTMANN, CHAs. MORGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1D. C. 

